Credit Information

Credit Verus Debt


Secured and unsecured debt - what's the difference?

It's easy to just think that debt is just debt, but in reality, there are different types of loans, and it's important to know what which type you have.

You will need to understand the differences in order to be a good money manager, or, if the worse happens and you find yourself turning to credit or debt counseling, you'll need to understand how different types of debt can be handled. Let's take a look at two types of debt; secured and unsecured loans.

Secured debt is a loan that has something attached of value attached to it-this is called collateral. The most common examples are car loans and mortgages.

Collateral can be cash or the item (or items) that you borrowed in order to get. (For example, your car.)

With secured debt, if you fall behind on your payments, the collateral can be repossessed and the lender will sell it in order to collect the money that they are owed. But that doesn't always put you in the clear, in reality, even if the collateral has been repossessed or foreclosed on and sold, you may still remain liable for any balance remaining until the entire amount of the loan is paid off.

Additionally, with secured debt you cannot negotiate payments or any restructuring through credit counseling, and oftentimes you won't be able to discharge the debt by filing for bankruptcy.

On the other hand, unsecured debts act totally different. Most people associate unsecured debt with a credit card or a personal loan without collateral. But it can also be a commercial debt or a medical debt.

Essentially, this type of loan is structured around a good credit history and a personal promise to re-pay the loan. There is no collateral on this type of debt, and the creditor has no assurance - other than your agreement to repay on pre-determined terms - that they will get paid.

If you fall behind on one of these debts, a lender can send your account into collections and take legal action. More often, they will attempt to try and work out a reasonable debt settlement.

These debts and loans can be discharged, or restructured in bankruptcy or through credit counseling. The bankruptcy laws are changing.

Because of the lender's risk factor, you will generally pay a higher interest rate on these types of loans.

Most people have a mixture of both secured and unsecured debts, and both should be managed with the utmost care and concern. Many times, someone just starting to build their credit history will have to prove themselves with a few, small unsecured debt loans and re-payments in order to qualify to buy a home or a car (secured debt).

But overall, the most important thing is to treat each one as it is; a potential good mark that will improve your credit rating.

Article from http://www.nothing-but-info.com Greatest information place.


MORE RESOURCES:

China Daily

Credit cards next in line for tightening
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 9 hours ago
By MARK GONGLOFF As consumers watch their wealth disappear in the markets, some are also at risk of losing one of their last spending lifelines: credit ...
Video: Stocks Fluctuate After Fed Corporate Debt Plan AssociatedPress
Markets in turmoil as credit crisis spreads San Francisco Chronicle
North American markets continue to tumble CTV.ca
Forbes - CNN
all 2,129 news articles


HispanicBusiness.com

US consumer credit posts worst drop ever
National Post, Canada - 1 hour ago
US consumer credit plummeted by US$7.9-billion dollars in August - its sharpest drop on record, US Federal Reserve figures showed Tuesday. ...
US consumer credit declines for first time in over decade Xinhua
US August consumer credit falls by $7.88 billion, first decline in ... Forbes
Consumer Credit Drops for First Time in 10 Years Wall Street Journal Blogs
Bloomberg - Reuters
all 222 news articles


Reuters

Former AIG CEOs back credit default swap regulation
Reuters - 7 hours ago
N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said they would back regulation of the credit default swaps market in testimony at the US House Oversight and ...
Unregulated swaps hastened Wall Street collapse The Associated Press
New York insurance regulator calls for regulation of credit ... Canadian Underwriter
Greenberg Says Federal Loan to AIG Is Bad Deal Wall Street Journal
Forbes - New York Times Blogs
all 327 news articles


Reuters

Credit crunch hits auto market's weak link
Reuters - 52 minutes ago
But financial market turmoil in recent weeks has put a vice-like squeeze on auto dealers, who face reduced and more expensive credit to finance both their ...
700 US dealerships could close this year, says head of dealer group Detroit Free Press
Auto dealers looking for the end of the credit crisis tunnel Crain's Detroit Business
NADA chair says 700 dealers to likely close BusinessWeek
Michigan Business Review - MLive.com - LeftLane News
all 79 news articles


Thanh Nien Daily

Credit gears of commerce are still jammed
Houston Chronicle, United States - 19 hours ago
By MADLEN READ AP NEW YORK — The jammed credit markets barely budged Monday as governments around the world scrambled to prop up their failing banks and ...
Credit woes: More than home loans CNNMoney.com
Credit still tight after House OK's bailout CNN
Credit squeeze adds urgency to today's vote on rescue plan Seattle Times
The Associated Press - Bloomberg
all 1,012 news articles


Sioux City Journal

Bailout should not include price controls on low-limit credit cards
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 22 hours ago
But now our government is about to make matters even worse by barring Main Street from accessing even a meager amount of credit. In addition to the taxpayer ...
Business Highlights Forbes
Bernanke: Fed Needs to Consider Policy, Rate Cut Wall Street Journal Blogs
TOPWRAP 12-Crisis hammers stocks, US urges unified response guardian.co.uk
The Associated Press - Globe and Mail
all 561 news articles


Voice of America

Small US Businesses Feel Pinch of Tightened Credit
Voice of America - 2 hours ago
By Mike O'Sullivan As the US Federal Reserve System announced measures to ease the credit crisis Tuesday, small business owners around the United States say ...


Corporate America Credit Union and FIMAC Reach Agreement to Offer ...
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
Based in Birmingham, Alabama, CACU has over $1.4 billion in assets, and serves the financial needs of 174 member credit unions. ...


Federal solar tax credit extended
San Antonio Business Journal, TX - 12 hours ago
The Solar Electric Power Association expects solar generation to expand significantly thanks to the extension of federal solar tax credits to utilities. ...
Will Coal Be Cashing In On the New Tax Credit? Wall Street Journal
Bailing Out Renewable Energy Tax Credits CleanTechnica
google news commentComment by Gregory Wetstone AWEA Sr. Director of Governmental & Public Affairs
Cleantech Group - Mondaq News Alerts (subscription)
all 542 news articles


Providence Journal

RBS Plummets After First Credit Rating Downgrade in a Decade
Bloomberg - 16 hours ago
The lender had its long-term and short-term counterparty credit ratings lowered Oct. 6 to A+/A-1 from AA-/A-1+ by the London-based analysts at Standard ...
Shares in British banks plunge eTaiwan News
RBS's Credit Rating Reduced by S&P for First Time Since 1998 Bloomberg
UK Government Said to Provide Capital for Banks (Update1) Bloomberg
Bloomberg - Bloomberg
all 69 news articles

Credit - Google News

Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating
© 2006